Rangers in hunt for USMNT striker Brandon Vazquez after Europe admission made, Middlesbrough and Norwich interested
Rangers have already scouted FC Cincinnati striker Brandon Vazquez amid an admission from the player he wants to move to Europe, 90min reports.
The 24-year-old is attracting widespread interest on this side of the Atlantic after scoring 19 times and assisting eight more across 35 MLS regular season and playoff appearances in an “impressive” 2022 season.
He had previously suggested to 90min in January that he wasn’t ready to “let go” of what he had achieved with Cincinnati, but has since admitted of his ambition to play in Europe saying, as per 90min: “For sure, that’s the next step that I want to take.”
He will apparently have no shortage of suitors with England Premier League sides Everton, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth “keeping a close eye” on him, while the Light Blues are not alone in scouting the USMNT international.
Norwich, Sheffield United and Middlesbrough have also had a look at him, as his style of play is thought to suit English football.
Step up
Michael Beale wants to add in his forward department and if Alfredo Morelos leaves then the need for a new striker is going to be even more pressing.
The last arrival from MLS was not quite the success that everyone had hoped for, with James Sands’ loan ultimately cut short instead of being made permanent.
Vazquez had an excellent 2022 season that saw him make the All Star game as a replacement, scored on his international debut, and is part of a side that is top of their conference so far in the 2023 campaign with a goal and assist to his name.
He won’t have so many teams in England looking at him for nothing but if the Gers are to put everything into winning the race for a deal they will need to be sure that he has made a step up that will last, having only netted four times in 31 appearances in 2021, admittedly mostly off the bench.
There is sure to be a decent amount of movement in and out of Ibrox this summer if Beale gets his way, and new chairman John Bennett will surely have plenty of questions to answer if the upgrade to the squad isn’t complete enough.
Vazquez appears to be in the conversation and ready to make a move, so if the Rangers boss likes him there is a good argument to say the SPFL is the right next step before the Premier League, but it looks set to be a crowded race.
In other Rangers news, the club remain in the dark over how a major recent move has impacted on their chances of a key £5million transfer move.